Well, was watching one of the sports channels here, and the evening bulletin had the Japanese squad being waved off as they headed to Europe for the next round of the Olympic qualifiers. It is unlikely that they will be able to progress much more since they are up against Germany and Austria, but that wont stop them trying!
So, how did Japan get there? Well, they got on a plane! Ha ha! OK, sorry...
They managed to progress out of the earlier qualifying group by turning over Poland, and Britain. How on earth did they manage that!? This is a nation with about 6 full time rinks, and the rest are open for only 4 months before being turned back into swimming pools, and only 4 professional teams!
Well, mainly because in Japan they have actually sat down and decided to focus a lot of their energies on sustainable development. That means bringing in Japanese players who are willing to hang around for a while, rather than shelling out on a lot of guys to come in for a year, take their money and leave, without giving a lot back.
After watching some of the Asia League, its clear that the standard is down on the Elite league. However, the 4 teams that Japan has entered have 3 solid lines and 3 imports. The 3 imports are on pretty good money, and the rest of the money is spent on getting the rest of the three lines up to scratch.
This allows the Japanese squad to pick from a small, but uniformly high standard of players. Bcause they work on developing their players, the players do get together much more than our players do. Even down to summer camp getaways all design to boost team play.
The end result?
They turned us over.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
What a week!
Well, thought should post a little blog, now that the vacation is over...
Unfortunately, I am STILL in the UK.
Yuko got a little sick after the new years bash, which was, by the way, rather good fun! Thanks guys! However, with Yuko going down, thought a few days in bed, then ok for the flight home. Come Sunday and time to travel down to London ready to fly out on the Monday, and Yuko has apparently shaken most of the effects off. On the train, everything going swimmingly. Until Milton Keynes. We roll out of MK, and then grind to a halt.
For 2 HOURS!
Due to a power line failure.
Sheesh.
Then, the train manager (read "conductor") announces that the train is going back to MK to terminate. So, back we roll. And in the mad crush to get off the train, my document case vanishes into the crowd of people flooding past to get off. Either by design, or accident. The problem with thisis that it has my passport in! Problem.
Next problem. Whilst waiting at the station to find out if the bag can be traced, Yuko suddenly gets worse. Finally, ditch all hope of seeing it again (Thanks to whichever little so and so took it and never handed it in!) and get Yuko to a hotel. Get her to bed, and the condition just gets worse!
So, finally bite the bullet, and get a cab to the hospital. See the admissions nurse who confidently declares "Flu." Well, since we are there, we thought we would hang on and see the doc. Well, duely the doc comes round and pronounces a liver infection!
Bye bye plane tickets. We are NOT leaving for Japan!
Never mind. A couple of nights, no problem.
Except the liver was fine!
finally, after several tests, and a whole lot of pain on mine and Yuko's part (Physical for Yuko, and mental for me since there is nothing I can do!) the doctor announces that the CT scan has reveal the right kidney to be enlarged, and needs removing! OK. THIS is a problem. Upsets the both of us!
Still, after a good nights sleep, another doctor comes down and says that the kidney is only infected, but it is out of place. So, a dose of drugs, and speak to a doctor in Japan about the wonky kidney. Apparently it is not a huge issue, but will need sorting!
So, after a gamut of emotion, mostly bad, Yuko is released, and I have to sprint to Liverpool for a replacement passport, which, bless them, they do in a day for me!
So, thanks to my co-workers for holding down the fort and sorting out some paperwork for me, and Yuko and I are due to fly out on Saturday! After one of the most memorable vacations of my life!
Unfortunately, I am STILL in the UK.
Yuko got a little sick after the new years bash, which was, by the way, rather good fun! Thanks guys! However, with Yuko going down, thought a few days in bed, then ok for the flight home. Come Sunday and time to travel down to London ready to fly out on the Monday, and Yuko has apparently shaken most of the effects off. On the train, everything going swimmingly. Until Milton Keynes. We roll out of MK, and then grind to a halt.
For 2 HOURS!
Due to a power line failure.
Sheesh.
Then, the train manager (read "conductor") announces that the train is going back to MK to terminate. So, back we roll. And in the mad crush to get off the train, my document case vanishes into the crowd of people flooding past to get off. Either by design, or accident. The problem with thisis that it has my passport in! Problem.
Next problem. Whilst waiting at the station to find out if the bag can be traced, Yuko suddenly gets worse. Finally, ditch all hope of seeing it again (Thanks to whichever little so and so took it and never handed it in!) and get Yuko to a hotel. Get her to bed, and the condition just gets worse!
So, finally bite the bullet, and get a cab to the hospital. See the admissions nurse who confidently declares "Flu." Well, since we are there, we thought we would hang on and see the doc. Well, duely the doc comes round and pronounces a liver infection!
Bye bye plane tickets. We are NOT leaving for Japan!
Never mind. A couple of nights, no problem.
Except the liver was fine!
finally, after several tests, and a whole lot of pain on mine and Yuko's part (Physical for Yuko, and mental for me since there is nothing I can do!) the doctor announces that the CT scan has reveal the right kidney to be enlarged, and needs removing! OK. THIS is a problem. Upsets the both of us!
Still, after a good nights sleep, another doctor comes down and says that the kidney is only infected, but it is out of place. So, a dose of drugs, and speak to a doctor in Japan about the wonky kidney. Apparently it is not a huge issue, but will need sorting!
So, after a gamut of emotion, mostly bad, Yuko is released, and I have to sprint to Liverpool for a replacement passport, which, bless them, they do in a day for me!
So, thanks to my co-workers for holding down the fort and sorting out some paperwork for me, and Yuko and I are due to fly out on Saturday! After one of the most memorable vacations of my life!
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